Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, January 8th at 8:15 PM ET
Location: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI
Betting Odds: GB -4.5, 49 Total on Oddsshark
Network: NBC
Writer: Justin Herrera (@semtexmex93 on Twitter)
Detroit Lions
Quarterback
Jared Goff (Start, QB1)
Jared Goff has been on fire in the last five weeks, with four top-five performances. Since Week 13 Goff has been the QB2, only behind Patrick Mahomes in total points. Goff has gone two-plus months without throwing an interception and has averaged 21.9 fantasy points in the last five games. The Lions have been relying a lot on Goff’s arm, asking him to throw 37 attempts a game in the last five games, which has paid dividends for your fantasy teams. On average this year the Packers have been rather stingy when it comes to fantasy points given up to QBs, allowing only 14.3 a game. In Goff’s previous meeting with the Packers, he was held to 137 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception adding up to only 12.4 points. If you are playing in Week 18, then you want someone who has something to play for and that’s Goff, so go ahead and play Goff this week and let’s see if he can continue his run.
Running Backs
Jamaal Williams (Start, RB2), D’Andre Swift (Start, High-End-Flex)
Jamaal Williams had a late-season resurgence last week, getting 47% of the snap share. Prior to his game last week, Williams had 10.4 fantasy points total in the previous three weeks. He was not good, to say the least, but there’s a different feel to this offense when the running game is working. This means Williams will get touches, he’s gotten touches in the red zone all year long – garnering 57 of them on the season, 20 of which were on the goal line. The Packers have been bad against the run, allowing 19.4 fantasy points a game to running backs this year. While Williams has been hot and cold this year, he’ll always have goal-line carries, so his TD chances are high. Start Williams this week.
D’Andre Swift went from laying a dud in your semifinals to being your championship hero. He scored two touchdowns and tallied 117 yards on 15 touches last week. Swift’s main asset is the receiving game, which should pay off in this game as the Packers have allowed 7.7 yards per catch this year. Swift is one of the best in the game when he’s given the ball, with the second-highest yards created average per touch (4.49). Start Swift this week against the Packers.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Amon Ra St. Brown (Start, WR2), DJ Chark (Sit), Brock Wright (Sit)
Amon Ra St. Brown has been lackluster in the last four weeks, getting 37 targets, 8 in the red zone, and coming away with zero TDS or top-20 performances. This week he gets Jaire Alexander, who is fresh off his performance against Justin Jefferson. In his first game against the Packers, his stat line was nine targets, four receptions, and 55 yards. It’s going to be hard to sit St. Brown, but start him with tempered expectations.
DJ Chark hasn’t been a factor for fantasy teams this year, and I don’t think he’ll be much of one in this game. Only four top-24 performances and one top-10 outcome have made Chark a dud this year. This game shouldn’t yield a different outcome unless it’s a hail mary. So I don’t think you want to have your championship aspirations left to a shot in the dark.
Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra have combined for eight touchdowns this year, but there’s no guarantee who is going to be playing and getting the attention. Sit them and don’t stress it.
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers (Start, QB2)
Aaron Rodgers has had a crazy year, only logging two top-12 performances. His highest finish was QB10, which is incredibly unlike Rodgers. The Packers have been on a four-game win streak and haven’t been relying on Rodgers nearly as much as in previous years. During the win streak, Rodgers has averaged one touchdown a game and 14.1 fantasy points. The Lions have allowed the most fantasy points to QBs per game (22.5), but in the first matchup, they held Rodgers to 16.6 points. The Packers have been getting the job done with everyone but Rodgers, but this Week I’d start AROD because this game has fantasy bonanza written all over it. Start Rodgers this week.
Running Backs
Aaron Jones (Start, RB2), AJ Dillon (Start, High-End Flex)
Aaron Jones had a good week against the Vikings tallying 113 yards on 16 touches. The Lions have been one of the worst teams against the run game. On average Detroit has allowed 17.3 fantasy points to RBs and has given up the third most rushing TDs (15). Jones only has one top-12 performance in the last month and has played under 40% of snaps in the last two games. Starting him this week means tempering your expectations.
AJ Dillon is getting hot at the right time, scoring six touchdowns in the last five games, and has out-snapped Jones in the last two games. Jones also has 13 red zone touches in the last three games and should be heavily utilized this week. While Dillon won’t be an RB1 this week, you should still start him as a high-end flex.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Christian Watson (Start, High-End Flex), Romeo Doubs (Sit), Allen Lazard (Start, Low-End Flex) Robert Tonyan (Start, TE1)
Christian Watson has fallen off since his spectacular four-week run (Weeks 10-13). Only scoring 20 fantasy points in the last three weeks, while still seeing six red zone targets during that time. Watson may also still be injured from last week, but his upside is phenomenal. Start him this week as a high-end flex.
Allen Lazard has gotten plenty of opportunities in the last two weeks with 17 targets and five coming in the red zone. The Lions have given up the third most fantasy points per game to WRs (24.8) and have given up the second most receiving yards (3,079). Lazard could play a role this week but unless he scores a touchdown then he’s not worth more than a low-end-flex.
Romeo Doubs has the potential to be the team’s top possession receiver going forward, but this is not the week to start him. Over the last three weeks, Doubs has averaged five targets a game, but hasn’t gone over 60 yards and hasn’t scored a touchdown. Doubs also only has two red zone targets in those three weeks. Just not the opportunities you want to bank your championships on.
Robert Tonyan finished as TE7 this past week, putting up 52 yards and a touchdown. Tonyan has been old reliable to Rodgers and should be a factor in this game. He is a good starting option as the Lions have allowed an average of 9.2 fantasy points per game to tight ends. And as we all know it only takes 10 points for a tight end to be a TE1. Start Tonyan this week.